Mathematics Schools and Programs in The United States

Mathematics Studies in The United States

Mathematics is offered at almost every college and university in the United States, from two-year community colleges to research universities with large doctoral programmes. Students do not enrol directly in a fixed mathematics curriculum as in Spain or Latin America. They enter a college, take courses in several fields and choose mathematics as their major, often combined with a second major or a minor.

SpainExchange lists 241 schools in the United States under mathematics, the largest groups being in Boston, New York and Philadelphia (four each).

How the mathematics degree is organised

According to EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, undergraduate programmes lead to an associate degree (two years) or a bachelor's degree (four years), and graduate programmes lead to a master's or doctoral degree.

• Associate degrees: community colleges offer two-year Associate of Arts or Associate of Science programmes. Through the "2+2" route, two years of community college followed by two years of university study lead to a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degrees (BA or BS): usually four years of full-time study. Students take classes in a wide variety of subjects in addition to their major, and the major is typically declared by the end of the second year. The University of Chicago offers both a BA and a BS in mathematics, including a BS in applied mathematics and a BS in mathematics with a specialisation in economics. At Purdue University, areas of focus within the mathematics major include actuarial science, applied mathematics, business mathematics, computer science, mathematics education and statistics
• Master's degrees: typically two years of additional specialisation
• Doctorates (PhD): research degrees that EducationUSA describes as five to eight-year programmes. Doctoral programmes are small: The University of Chicago has roughly 80 PhD students in mathematics, and 15 to 20 join each year

U.S. universities do not use ECTS. Each course carries a number of credits, and each institution sets the number of credits needed to graduate. The academic year usually runs from August to May.

Admission and language

Each university sets its own admission rules; there is no national entrance exam and no official ranking of institutions. Teaching is in English, and U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Each institution reviews an international applicant's previous studies and may ask for a report from a credential evaluation agency. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the academic year of enrolment.

For a degree programme, international students need a student visa. The F visa is for study at an accredited U.S. college or university. Once a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) accepts the student, its international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application.

Costs

Fees are set by each institution. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees in 2022-23 were $4,000 at public two-year institutions, $9,800 at public four-year institutions and $40,700 at private non-profit four-year institutions. The figures for public institutions use the in-district or in-state rate, so international students should check the rate that applies to them.

Where to study mathematics

Because nearly every institution teaches mathematics, the choice depends on the type of school more than on the city: a university with graduate programmes, a college centred on the bachelor's degree or a community college as a first step. Examples from this directory:

• Universities such as The University of Chicago, Purdue University in West Lafayette, the University of Washington in Seattle, Stanford University and Yale University in New Haven
• Colleges such as Lawrence University in Appleton and Claremont McKenna College in Claremont
• Community colleges such as Tacoma Community College, Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick and Alamance Community College in Graham

Useful criteria are the options inside the major (pure, applied, statistics, actuarial science), the chance to take graduate-level courses as an undergraduate, which Purdue University mentions for students heading to graduate school, and the cost.

Recognition and careers

Recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to the institution's accreditation, which can be checked in the databases of the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The level of the degree shapes the career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree. Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field. Actuaries typically need a bachelor's degree and must pass a series of exams to become certified. BLS projects the following employment growth from 2025 to 2035:

• Data scientists: 35%, with about 24,800 openings a year
• Mathematicians and statisticians: 10%, with about 2,000 openings a year
• Actuaries: 9%, with about 1,500 openings a year

Frequently asked questions

How long does a mathematics degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. A master's degree typically adds two years, and EducationUSA describes the doctorate as a five to eight-year programme.

Can I combine mathematics with another subject?

Yes. U.S. bachelor's degrees include courses outside the major, and Purdue University notes that its mathematics majors leave room for double majors and minors without necessarily prolonging graduation.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a mathematician?

Usually. According to BLS, mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree, while data scientists and actuaries can enter with a bachelor's degree.